A Rich Life – It’s Not What You Think

Earlier in the spring, I was asked to speak at the healthcare technology leadership conference. I ended my talk at this meeting with this quote…

“And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love – you make”

~ The Beatles, from the song ‘The End’

I actually sang the first part of it, and nobody ran out the door. Ha!

The point I was trying to make was – serving, and caring for others will mean the most to you in having a very rich, full life, now and in the end.

Since college, I’ve been involved in, serving on boards and working with non-profit organizations that care for children that have been abused or neglected, through no fault of their own. And, within the last several months, we’ve actually become a foster home for a little girl we got to know through one of these organizations. Quite a big deal for my family.

Ancil with his oldest daughter and his grandson.

We had gotten to know our little girl 3 years ago while I was serving on the board at Soaring Wings Ranch, and then as ‘extended family’ for her. We had really done this so that my kids could see and love on this person. In this narcissistic world of technology and social media, I wanted them, and us as a family, to be a part of loving on and caring for her. And for them to know there was, and is, a world outside their own that they needed to understand, to be aware of and care about and for, as they grow. It really has had an impact on all of us to love someone who, at times, can’t us love back, and lives with a broken life. Oh yeah, and, we have a house full of dogs that she loves and they love her, too.

Also, I’ve attended way too many funerals as of late of people of varying age. Seems like the ones that have the most attendance (if you gauge impact on attendance) have been people that are coaches, mentors, teachers, public servants etc. that touched so many lives – invested themselves in the development of others. – Senator Stanley Russ comes to mind, and his love and support of me personally from the time I was in high school until his passing. What an impact he had on my life and so many others. He will always be with me. There’s not a coffee shop I don’t go into and turn around to look for him with his newspaper, and crossword puzzles, and his words, ‘sit down pal and let’s visit’.

As you rush around to hit deadlines, work on your 401k, wrestle with technology and innovation, and further your career, I would challenge you to stop and help those around you. Spend a little time. Maybe take someone to coffee. It would give blessing and fullness to your life, as well as have an impact on the ‘least of these’.

‘And in the end…’ you will have blessings to look back on and carry with you.